From Ninde Tutor to Future Pediatrician</h1> <article> <h1>From Ninde Tutor to Future Pediatrician</h1> <p>kviancou — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:56:54 +0000</p> <span>From Ninde Tutor to Future Pediatrician</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-13T13:56:54-04:00" title="Friday, March 13, 2026 - 13:56">Fri, 03/13/2026 - 13:56</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><a href="/center-engaged-liberal-arts">The Center for Engaged Liberal Arts</a> (CELA) has helped Ellie Pollock-Ballard ’26 refine her goals of becoming a pediatrician and volunteering in the nonprofit sector.</p><p>With support from �鶹��Ƶ's <a href="/bcsl">Bonner Center</a>, Pollock-Ballard, a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology">biology</a> major, obtained her first volunteer role with the Ninde Scholars Program. As a Ninde tutor, she worked one-on-one with high school students in the �鶹��Ƶ City School District. “Working with my scholars at the local high school has helped me uncover my desire to work with youth and support them in pursuing their endeavors,” she says.</p><p>Pollock-Ballard later volunteered as a tutor with the America Counts program, where she worked with local elementary school students. In this role, she expanded her mentorship experience to younger learners.</p><p>Further developing her passion for service, Pollock-Ballard spent a winter term volunteering with �鶹��Ƶ Community Services (OCS). There, she learned how the needs of different communities vary and was inspired to continue serving beyond her four weeks.</p><p>During a summer internship, Pollock-Ballard joined the development team at the Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio, a nonprofit serving children and families. She balanced day-to-day operational tasks with strategic and logistical work behind the scenes. “It was incredible to see how both sides of the house work together to achieve their mission of ‘keeping families close.’”</p><p>CELA also helped Pollock-Ballard strengthen her interests and skills in medical research. As a fellow in the �鶹��Ƶ Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (OSURF) program—now known as the <a href="/undergraduate-research/osri">�鶹��Ƶ Summer Research Institute</a> Fellowship—she worked in a developmental biology lab. “Clinical research is a key component of medicine, so it was important to me to gain experience conducting research as an undergraduate to help set myself up for success on my journey to become a physician.”</p><p>During a later winter term, Pollock-Ballard shadowed a pediatrician at a local clinic. This experience reaffirmed her interest in pediatrics and helped her develop practical interpersonal skills essential to the profession. </p><p>Her experiences working with and mentoring children have deepened her sense of purpose. She now plans to pursue a medical degree and become a pediatrician, while continuing her commitment to nonprofit service.</p><p>Pollock-Ballard is a nominee for the CELA Award, recognizing outstanding engagement and achievement in connecting academic pursuits with experiential learning.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Through hands-on service, nonprofit leadership, and undergraduate research, Ellie Pollock-Ballard ’26 is building a future in pediatric medicine rooted in community care.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-13T12:00:00Z">Fri, 03/13/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">By Kate Martin ’26</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2358">Undergraduate Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4064">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Rethinking Antibiotics</h1> <p>kviancou — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:13:59 +0000</p> <span>Rethinking Antibiotics</span> <span><span>kviancou</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-11T11:13:59-04:00" title="Wednesday, March 11, 2026 - 11:13">Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:13</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Caitlin Kluger ’26 is a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology">biology</a> major with minors in gender, sexuality, and feminist studies and comparative American studies. Originally from New York City, Kluger is involved with OSCA and works as a barista at Azariah’s Café. She answered these questions about the summer internship she held before her senior year at �鶹��Ƶ.</p><p><strong>Can you describe your summer internship?</strong></p><p>I was a research assistant at Mass General Brigham, where I studied alternatives to treat bacterial infection by employing non-traditional techniques to protect the body’s healthy flora. Rather than using antibiotics, the lab targeted bacteria by inhibiting quorum sensing, which prevents communication and inhibits their virulence. Antibiotics are not a sustainable form of treatment, both due to the fact that they are not specific to the bacteria they target and because bacteria can develop immunity, so it's important to explore alternative forms of treatment. </p><p><strong>How did �鶹��Ƶ influence you to pursue your internship? </strong></p><p>My work in <a href="/alexandra-pike">Alex Pike’s lab </a>taught me how to generate my own research questions and apply related procedures in order to produce meaningful results. Alex taught me how to critically think through protocols and how to execute them as productively as possible. I’ve been a member of her lab since my sophomore year, and she has been formative in preparing me for this internship.</p><p><strong>How did your internship align with your post-college goals?</strong></p><p>It taught me what full-time research looks like. Although I don’t yet have defined post-college goals, I know that I’ll use this experience to help shape my future. </p><p><strong>What surprised you or made a big impression?</strong></p><p>The experience reinforced the importance of genuinely understanding every step you take in a procedure. Research is not personally valuable unless you truly understand the role that each step plays in the experiment. This is a concept that can be applied beyond the lab to other academic procedures and will be valuable to me in my future endeavors. </p><p><strong>What drew you to your major?</strong></p><p>I’ve had a passion for biology for as long as I can remember. Many of my family’s dinner table conversations revolved around scientific discoveries we were passionate about, so it was unsurprising when I chose biology as a major. I’m excited by the prospect of understanding how things work, breaking them down to their most basic level, and then reapplying these findings to improve quality of life on a large scale. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Through a summer internship at Mass General Brigham, Caitlin Kluger ’26 explored new ways to fight infection.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-03-11T12:00:00Z">Wed, 03/11/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Office of Communications</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4064">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4093">Internships</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Caitlin Kluger</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>A Path to Healthcare</h1> <p>awillia2 — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:46:27 +0000</p> <span>A Path to Healthcare</span> <span><span>awillia2</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-09-11T11:46:27-04:00" title="Thursday, September 11, 2025 - 11:46">Thu, 09/11/2025 - 11:46</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>“When you enter a trauma bay, especially as a patient who’s not familiar with how it works, it can be disorienting, because everyone swarms around you all at once,” says Lesikar, who graduated with a double major in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" target="_blank" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="d0a6ffe5-ab84-42b7-9069-d9f47766a924" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Neuroscience">neuroscience</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" target="_blank" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="2e8ca96d-493a-456b-b9b1-73583c30df0f" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Biology">biology</a>, a minor in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" target="_blank" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="08db65f2-80ae-4a7d-bcf9-9a54b52d7c26" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Chemistry and Biochemistry">chemistry</a>, and an integrative concentration in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/global-health" target="_blank" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="cf90288b-047f-4d2f-ac3a-91691901fde1" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Global Health">global health</a>. But the doctors at Shock Trauma “made me feel taken care of and safe in the situation,” he says.</p><p>That first-hand experience as a patient, combined with watching his grandparents grapple with chronic degenerative illnesses, influenced his post-�鶹��Ƶ plans to enter medicine. In fall 2025, Lesikar is entering the MD/MPH dual degree program at Johns Hopkins Medical School, with plans to become a surgeon and a researcher. </p><p>Though he solidified his close focus on medicine pre-college—he later volunteered at Shock Trauma, which led to him becoming an EMT and then an ER tech—Lesikar credits �鶹��Ƶ for fostering his interdisciplinary impulses.</p><p>“I wanted to get a more well-rounded liberal arts education,” he says. “I like having been able to build really close relationships with a lot of my mentors and professors, and being really involved in the research process.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">For Brycen Lesikar ’25, �鶹��Ƶ’s liberal arts education led to research, intellectual inquiry and medical school to become a surgeon.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2025-09-23T12:00:00Z">Tue, 09/23/2025 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Kira Goldenberg</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In high school, Brycen Lesikar ’25 was a decorated pole vaulter. At 16, one vault went awry, landing the Baltimore native in the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland, where he was treated for a traumatic brain injury.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After �鶹��Ƶ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4075">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4064">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/global-health" hreflang="und">Global Health</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones ’97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-43609" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class="blockquote--quotemark" data-text-color-red> <p>I wanted to get a more well-rounded liberal arts education. I like having been able to build really close relationships with a lot of my mentors and professors, and being really involved in the research process.</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-43610" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>He spent three years working in Associate Professor of Neuroscience <a href="/node/50471" target="_blank">Christopher Howard</a>’s lab, helping lead a research project looking at the effects of Parkinson’s Disease in animal models. Lesikar and collaborators examined mechanisms that either slowed the neurodegenerative process or promoted regrowth. </p><p>“He’s very hands off, so it pushes the students to be very hands on,” Lesikar says of Howard. “When I needed him for advice, he was definitely there, but I think it pushed me to be more independent, inquisitive, and self-motivated.” </p><p>Robert W. & Eleanor H. Biggs Professor of Neuroscience <a href="/gunnar-kwakye" target="_blank" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="a4ff3436-3ac9-4e9b-968d-9dad71694d40" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Gunnar Kwakye">Gunnar Kwakye</a> also played an integral role in encouraging Lesikar to consider “the interdisciplinary nature of medicine, science, and the humanities.” </p><p>That intellectual inquiry, along with experiences such as volunteering at the Lorain County Free Clinic, led him to his planned post-college focus on the relationships between societal inequality and surgical outcomes. </p><p>“I’m interested in exploring the ways in which structural barriers influence the likelihood of developing acute surgical emergencies,” Lesikar says. “Having witnessed the things that I witnessed in terms of healthcare disparities, I was able to contextualize them a lot better with the classes I had here. </p><p>“�鶹��Ƶ’s liberal arts education really helped me see that healthcare and public health don’t happen in silos.”</p><hr><p><em>See how �鶹��Ƶ’s research opportunities and liberal arts education prepares future physicians through our</em><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/pre-medicine-and-health-careers" target="_blank" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="d4ebd125-70a1-4397-9bb9-36d6d0d4168e" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Pre-Medicine and Health Careers" rel="noopener"><em> pre-medicine and healthcare careers program</em></a><em>.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Riley Eaton ’24 Hones her Interests at Life Biosciences</h1> <p>lcurtis2 — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 18:35:35 +0000</p> <span>Riley Eaton ’24 Hones her Interests at Life Biosciences</span> <span><span>lcurtis2</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-08-29T14:35:35-04:00" title="Thursday, August 29, 2024 - 14:35">Thu, 08/29/2024 - 14:35</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Describe what you’re doing this summer in your internship.</strong></p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Riley Eaton ’24</figcaption> </figure> <p>This summer, I am interning at Life Biosciences where I am involved in the Discovery and Development of cellular rejuvenation therapeutics for age-related diseases. I attend and contribute to several weekly meetings including Epigenetic Reprogramming and Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy Program meetings with the Research and Development team, where I assist in keeping track of key notes and action items. I am gaining hands-on experience in day-to-day operations, project management, and shadowing key personnel to understand their roles. The company is supporting me to complete a Discovery project that involves identifying a new human aging disease that may benefit from their therapeutic approach. I am doing this by reviewing scientific literature, understanding the disease, and evaluating the feasibility and practical steps towards implementing a new therapeutic program. This work culminates in a presentation of my findings and a recommendation to the company. My primary goals of the internship have involved educational readings and shadowing as well as practical learning through experience.</p> <p><strong>How did �鶹��Ƶ shape or influence you to pursue this internship? </strong></p> <p>In my studies of <a href="/node/3346">biology</a> at �鶹��Ƶ and during my <a href="/node/73561">abroad</a> program, I have been most interested in evolutionary genetics and conservation. And while this internship involves different topics than my main interests, �鶹��Ƶ has inspired me to keep an open mind and explore diverse opportunities. The environment at �鶹��Ƶ has already supported me in exploring my diverse interests (from <a href="/node/472145">engineering</a>, to <a href="/node/3366">psychology</a>, to <a href="/node/3386">economics</a>, and finally to <a href="/node/3346">biology</a>), and has led me to (sometimes unexpected) experiences that I have loved, including this internship. </p> <p><strong>How does pursuing this internship align with your post-college life and career goals?</strong></p> <p>Pursuing this internship has been an invaluable experience that has connected me with inspiring scientists who have helped me to envision my own future as a biologist. The hands-on experience and exposure to cutting-edge research and development practices at Life Biosciences have provided a solid foundation for my future academic and professional pursuits, including getting a PhD and conducting research as a geneticist. This opportunity has allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, develop essential skills, and build relationships with professionals in the industry.</p> <p><strong>How has the liberal arts education and way of thinking shaped how you approach science and research?</strong></p> <p>The liberal arts education at �鶹��Ƶ has taught me to approach scientific problems with interdisciplinary perspectives, and to think critically and contextually. This holistic approach has been invaluable in my internship, where understanding the broader context of drug discovery and development is essential (especially when I am working with a team of PhD scientists with years of experience in this field). The emphasis on communication skills and collaborative learning at �鶹��Ƶ has also equipped me with the ability to effectively convey and question complex scientific concepts. These skills have been instrumental in navigating the interdisciplinary nature of my internship as I explore various fields within biology.</p> <p><em>If you're interested in a summer internship, connect with the <a href="/node/4521">Career Exploration & Development</a> team to learn more about exploring career interests, gaining real-world experience, and developing a professional network.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-10-11T12:00:00Z">Fri, 10/11/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Riley Eaton ’24 is a <a href="/node/3346">biology</a> major, with minors in <a href="/node/3196">environmental studies</a> and <a href="/node/472259">French</a>. She has a wide variety of interests, but after settling on biology, she found her way to Life Biosciences, Inc. Here, she discusses the value of this <a href="/node/460136">Internship+</a> program placement and having �鶹��Ƶ as a foundation.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4097">Internship+ Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4096">Summer Internships</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4064">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2403">Career Exploration & Development</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Riley Eaton ’24 at a Life Biosciences team-building event at a food distribution center.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Riley Eaton ’24</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Haoyuan Gao Wins �鶹��Ƶ's 2024 Nexial Prize</h1> <p>azaleski — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 20:13:24 +0000</p> <span>Haoyuan Gao Wins �鶹��Ƶ's 2024 Nexial Prize</span> <span><span>azaleski</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-06-10T16:13:24-04:00" title="Monday, June 10, 2024 - 16:13">Mon, 06/10/2024 - 16:13</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Haoyuan Gao ’24, a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" target="_blank">biology</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" target="_blank">neuroscience</a> double major with minors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/book-studies" target="_blank">book studies</a>, <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" target="_blank">chemistry</a>, and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" target="_blank">East Asian Studies</a>, has been named the winner of �鶹��Ƶ’s 2024 Nexial Prize, an honor presented to an outstanding science student with aspirations for interdisciplinary research.</p> <p>The $50,000 cash award may be used in any way the recipient wishes.</p> <p>“With my background in biological sciences, book studies, and East Asian studies, I would like to dive into understanding the history of science in East Asia, which has long been overlooked,” says Gao, whose hometown is Beijing, China. “My knowledge of critical thinking, book and religious history, and the Chinese language will enable me to navigate through both primary sources written in classical languages and secondary sources written by contemporary scholars in both the West and the East.”<br> <br> For the next two years, Gao will be a research associate at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, as part of a team studying natural variations of the human brain. After that, he plans to apply for PhD programs in biology or neuroscience, with the long-term goal of becoming a professor. </p> <p>At �鶹��Ƶ, Gao conducted independent honors research with Associate Professor of Neuroscience <a href="/christopher-howard" target="_blank">Christopher Howard</a>, using fiber photometry to study the interactions between striatal patches and midbrain dopamine neurons and their roles in locomotor function, reward prediction, and action selection. He also studied the polymerization mechanisms of a bacterial tubulin-homologous protein TubZ with Associate Professor of Biology <a href="/laura-romberg" target="_blank">Laura Romberg</a>. </p> <p>Gao’s knowledge of Chinese calligraphy led him to teach a course on calligraphy through �鶹��Ƶ’s Experimental College, or <a href="http://go.oberlin.edu/exco-catalog" target="_blank">ExCo</a>, as well as a library-sponsored workshop. He was inspired to minor in East Asian Studies and book studies after taking the course Buddhism in East Asia with <a href="/andrew-macomber" target="_blank">Andrew Macomber</a>, assistant professor of East Asian religions.<br> <br> “As a STEM major student with interest in arts and humanities, I used to think that it was hard to find connections between them, but book studies formed a bridge between these two paths,” Gao says. “More importantly, it forms connections between different cultures and opens new angles to view the world…. Books from ancient times opened a window for me to get to know how our ancestors look at the world.”<br> </p> <p>His research and studies focused on the East Asian rare book collections in �鶹��Ƶ’s <a href="https://libraries.oberlin.edu/libraries/terrell-special-collections" target="_blank">Terrell Special Collections</a>, encompassing things like cataloging and scanning Chinese rare books and using the <a href="https://libraries.oberlin.edu/collections/special-collections/mary-ainsworth-collection-of-japanese-illustrated-books/about-the-collection" target="_blank">Mary A. Ainsworth Collection of Illustrated Japanese Books</a> for a final paper in Macomber’s course Haunted Archipelago.<br> <br> “In particular, Haoyuan was looking to reveal how aquatic animals native to the archipelago or imported from abroad influenced the historical imagination of supernatural creatures of the rivers, mountains, and seas in Japan,” Macomber says. “This is a highly original topic, one that creatively incorporates Haoyuan’s knowledge in biology, environmental studies, and East Asian religion.<br> <br> “Haoyuan’s projects are clearly driven by a desire to understand the complex relationships between humans and the natural world, and the ways that humans construct knowledge—whether scientific or religious—to make sense of that world,” Macomber adds. “His highly original and creative investigations into the intersections between nature and culture make him eminently suitable for the Nexial Prize.”</p> <p>Presented annually, the Nexial Prize honors a member of the graduating class whose science studies are complemented by a profound interest in the study of culture and who demonstrates excellence in the pursuit of interdisciplinary research. The prize was created by an alumnus to recognize the influence of �鶹��Ƶ’s liberal arts education on his successful career as a scientist and manager and his intellectual and cultural growth. The winner is determined by a faculty panel.</p> <p>The first Nexial Prize was presented in 2017. Following is a complete list of past winners:</p> <p><a href="/news/college-awards-first-ever-nexial-prize">Adam Chazin-Gray ’17</a> (biology)</p> <p><a href="/news/emilie-lozier-18-wins-50000-science-prize">Emilie Lozier ’18</a> (chemistry and French)</p> <p><a href="/news/jane-sedlak-19-studies-chemistry-wildfire-smoke">Jane Sedlak ’19</a> (chemistry)</p> <p><a href="/news/monica-dix-receives-2020-nexial-prize">Monica Dix ’20</a> (geology and politics)</p> <p><a href="/news/janet-wu-21-earns-oberlins-nexial-prize-2021">Janet Wu ’21</a> (neuroscience, biology, and piano performance)</p> <p><a href="/news/marwan-ghanem-22-receives-nexial-prize">Marwan Ghanem ’22</a> (biology and neuroscience)</p> <p><a href="/news/alli-roshni-wins-nexial-prize-2023" target="_blank">Alli Roshni ’23</a> (biology and economics)</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">$50K award honors a graduating science student with a passion for interdisciplinary research.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-06-11T12:00:00Z">Tue, 06/11/2024 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4064">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4073">Book Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4074">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=4075">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/andrew-macomber" hreflang="und">Andrew Macomber</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/christopher-howard" hreflang="und">Christopher Howard</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/laura-romberg" hreflang="und">Laura Romberg</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/book-studies" hreflang="und">Book Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Haoyuan Gao, �鶹��Ƶ's 2024 Nexial Prize Winner</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>